Ephesians 4:12 in the CEV says, “so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong.” That best summarizes our responsibility as a leader. To help others grow and know how to serve. As a Sunday School teacher it is your responsibility to organize your class to accomplish the mission of the Sunday School.
Ken Braddy mentions his work with a church in the related section. He describes that the mission of the Sunday School can be communicated through the acrostic LIFE. His is different from my list but both communicate the mission of the Sunday School. I believe that every Sunday School class and every teacher should be leading their class to accomplish these functions…
Loving People,
Investigating God’s Word,
Fellowshipping Together and
Evangelizing Others.
Through the years I’ve led churches through a process I call “Bringing LIFE to Adult Sunday School”. It is a 3-4 month process that begins with a rally of all adult classes on a Sunday morning during Sunday School. At the conclusion of the rally all participants are given an assessment that will aid them in discovering their place of service so that their class can accomplish LIFE. The classes will have 1-2 months to organize their classes and enlist the various leaders. During this organizational phase the pastor is to preach a sermon series on LIFE. Following the sermon series a day is set aside for training all those that have been enlisted. Here is the calendar from one church that I worked with through the process.
Wednesday, October 17 … Presented the Bringing LIFE to Adult SS to pastor and church staff. After approval placed all dates related to the emphasis on the church calendar.
Wednesday, January 16 … Presented the Bringing LIFE to Adult SS to SS Planning Team
Saturday, February 23 … Presented Bringing LIFE to Adult SS and announced the Rally to Adult SS Teachers and Leaders for the first time at the monthly training
Sunday, February 24 … Announce the Rally to the church for the first time and announced it every week until the rally
Saturday, March 16 … Pastor and SS Director called all adult teachers
Sunday, March 17 … Bringing LIFE to Adult Sunday School Rally
Sunday, April 14 … “Loving People” sermon
Sunday, April 21 … “Investigating God’s Word” sermon
Sunday, April 28 … “Fellowshipping Together” sermon
Sunday, May 5 … “Evangelizing Others” sermon
Sunday, May 12 … Deadline for classes to turn in their Adult Class Ministry Team Worksheet
Sunday, May 19 … Bringing LIFE to Adult SS Training Day
•”L”OVING PEOPLE – (1:00-2:15pm) – Training for Care Group Leaders
•”I”NVESTIGATING GOD’S WORD – (2:30-3:45pm) – Training for Teachers, Apprentice Teachers, Administrative Leaders and Discipleship Leaders
•”F”ELLOWSHIPPING TOGETHER- (4:00-5:15pm) – Training for Prayer Leaders, Fellowship Leaders and Secretaries
•”E”VANGELIZING OTHERS – (5:30-6:45pm) – Training for Outreach/Evangelism Leaders, Missions Leaders and Greeters
This process has been very successful but the challenge for me is that I can’t get to every church. The process is now available to all churches through a DVD/CD resource. Everything that is needed is included, you can either just hit play or you can make everything yours. To get the resource go to our online store by visiting http://gabaptist.org/shop/bringing-life/. The cost of this resource including shipping is $15.
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Dr. Smith serves as a state missionary with the Georgia Baptist Convention and is the Sunday School/Small Groups Specialist.
Visit their website at sssg.gabaptist.org for more information and other resources to aid your Sunday School.
You can also connect with Dr. Smith at gabaptistsundayschool.org, facebook.com/GABaptistSundaySchool or twitter.com/GBCSundaySchool.
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